Foodworks Alliance is helping people in the community share their recipes far beyond their own dinner tables.

“It’s not unusual for someone’s family to say, ‘Oh, that is the best salsa that I have ever had, you should put it on the shelves and sell it,’” Carol Humphreys, Foodworks Alliance Interim Director, said. “Well, we are the proving ground. We’re able to help them make sure that it is salable, they can make money and it’s a good business to develop.”

In 2014, Foodworks Alliance was created to support local businesses and connect growers, manufacturers and distributors involved in the local food system.

Humphreys said the non-profit currently has 11 active clients using the facility, but excitement for the alliance and its purpose has died down over the years.

With the year approaching its end, the Foodworks Alliance has revamped its plan to get more permanent people into staffing positions, expand the facility, market the organization more and find some grants that could help with funding issues.

Humphreys said that with the Alliance being a largely volunteer based operation, momentum has slowed down over the years. Although, the non-profit organization is looking to turn that momentum around heading into the new year.

“We’re trying to re-engage and get everything going so the community knows we’re still out there without having get the word out for a long time,” Humphreys said. “We’ve been missed in the market.”

Huston Farms and Lapp It Up! Kombucha Tea are two prominent clients that utilize the Foodworks Alliance to produce their locally famous products.

The Foodworks Alliance is a licensed commercial kitchen with industrial-sized equipment with a licensed kitchen operator to help people navigate the processes of producing local food products. It also helps guide people through all of the rules and regulations set forth by the state for people who do want to sell locally made food products.

Anyone interested in becoming involved with the Foodworks Alliance either to volunteer or with an interest to utilize the service can contact Humphreys at 740.868.7342.